Hey Y’all! I’m Dylan Cochran with the China Spring FFA. A growing topic in the agricultural industry today is technology that makes everyday life easier for farmers and agriculturalist across the globe. This new newfangled technology would be Space and the objects in it like satellites!

You may be wondering what Space has to do with agriculture… Although we may not be in Cape Canaveral, Florida nor are we staring in the movie Astronaut Farmer, there is a growing topic in farming; this being satellites. Satellites aren’t just for NASA anymore; they are becoming more and more popular in tractors and the farming industry. This may be one of the biggest historical changes agriculturists have ever seen. It’s right up there with the cotton gin and the reaper.

Driverless tractors are a part of precision farming. It IS the future and the future is now! Many of you may be wondering… what exactly IS precision farming? Precision farming is a new approach to crop management. It’s a strategy that allows farmers to optimize their operation, in search of the most economic production. What does this mean to you? The most profit! It’s not just something you can buy at the hardware store! It’s a little more complicated than that. To understand fully how precision farming works, you first have to become familiar with the tools and techniques that are the building blocks of this modern form of agriculture management. It all starts with the GPS. No, it’s not quite the one you have in your car. It’s a little more complicated than that. The heart of the precision agriculture is the GPS, or Global Positioning System. A GPS receiver is a device that uses a satellite up in space to track and In fact, researchers at the University of Kentucky use a GPS system that is accurate within 1 inch. So, there is no need to worry about tractors plowing through your back door.

You may be wondering how it can really be beneficial to a small family farm. Which raises the question, why do it? Why would you put an automatic guidance system on a tractor when you’re perfectly capable of driving a straight line without help? It turns out that, no matter how good of an operator you are, eventually fatigue starts to take its toll. But if you have the satellite to keep you in line, it doesn’t matter if it’s nighttime, if the conditions are dusty or even if the crop is overlapping the row. You can still get more work done in less time. According to Purdue University, potato farmers can schedule their machines for 22 hours a day, allowing two hours a day for maintenance. Now THAT couldn’t have been done in the past. Even with the best lighting systems, no one operates their equipment in the dark.

Also industry experts cite so-called “overlap” as a key problem for farmers. Studies show that when driving a tractor from row to row, operators often overlap the previous row by an average of 10 percent. This means that they use 10 percent more fertilizer and chemicals and do 10 percent more work. Also it means that they’re losing 10 percent of their potential profit. So in order for them make the most out of the precision farming, they would need to invest in VRT. Not, Visual Rhapsody Tortoises nor Ventilation Radio Transistors. VRT is Variable Rate Technology. These machines can automatically change their application rates in response to their position in the field. VRT systems are able to apply a variety of substances including fertilizers, pesticides, seed and even irrigation water. Some VRT machines can control up to 11 different materials at one time. And, with all those government regulations on fertilizer use, VRT can virtually fill out the forms for you. People have asked if there is any proof that this newfangled contraption actually works.

This newfangled contraption has stirred up a lot of debates recently in the news and agricultural industry all over. To find out more about this topic and why it may not be just one small step for man, but one giant leap for agricultural tune in next time to see another new and exciting edition of the China Spring FFA Blog!

Being able to participate in ag classes at school has to be a pretty great experience! Doing different types of classes freshmen to senior year. Although your first years you won’t get to do some of the upperclassmen classes its worth the wait! Starting your freshmen year you are able to take the class principles of agriculture. This prepares you for the variety of classes you will take later on. Your sophomore year you can take classes like livestock production, wildlife, ag mechanics, and floral design. Your junior year get ready for small animal management, equine science, horticultural science, and agricultural structures design and fabrication. Last but not least you can take some of my favorite classes! Join agribusiness management and marketing if you want to be affiliated in the agricultural business in the future. Want to be a vet? Then you need to join the advanced animal science class. Also greenhouse operation is good for nursery jobs. I hope you get to enjoy all these wonderful classes throughout high school!

LDESPosted By: Kyle Hutchinson3/17/2015

LDEs stand for Leadership Development Events. This allows people to demonstrate their abilities in public speaking, decision making, communication and their knowledge of agriculture and the FFA organization. Team and individual event are used to reinforce what is taught in agricultural science classrooms. All LDEs events have elimination rounds at the district and area before the state level competition.

I have been on an LDE team for three years and two out of those three years we made it to the state level. I participated in ag issues, in ag issues you must pick an issue that is a problem to agriculture and discuss the pro’s and con’s of the issue. My favorite part of ag issues was coming together as a team and becoming close friends.

By Tyler CliftonPosted By: Chelsea Fewell3/17/2015

I just recently started making pens for shop class,I made two to take to regionals and they were made of buffalo horn and a type of wood called zebra wood it's not black and white it is a real distinct wood type. When I took them to regionals I won first in all categories that they were placed in. State is in early May at the convention center and I hope to do week there like I did at regionals.

Our first podcast!Posted By: Chelsea Fewell3/4/2015

Download Matthew & Koltan's podcast at the bottom of this page!!

What's a CDE? Why should I care?Posted By: Megan Day3/4/2015

Hey Y’all! I’m Megan Day, with the China Spring FFA! Last year, I was part of the entomology CDE team. Anytime I think of CDE teams or contests, I remember a former area contest. As the land team was getting off the bus, a new member was holding the box filled to the brim with papers and scantrons. Suddenly, everyone feels a HUGE gust of wind, and we see the new member drop the box and catch his hat from flying off his head. A bad move on his part. While he caught his hat, every paper, scantron, land sample, and towel went flying! As I look out the window, all I can see is the land team sprinting to catch their supplies as everyone on the bus throws their head back laughing. Later we find out that this land team did FANTASTIC at the contest, even though they lost a few scantrons in the process.

Are you part of the FFA but not involved? Are you looking for a fun activity that prepares you for the future? Want to be prepared for your career? Want to win? Want to get out of school? Want to make great memories like mine? Then join a CDE team! The FFA offers a variety of Career Development Events, and China Spring FFA offers 13 of these! Check out all those teams and our 3 NEW TEAMS!

Mr. Day coaches 5 teams, such as:

Land (practice Monday during 9th period)

Homesite (practice Monday during 9th period)

Entomology (practice Tuesday at 3:45)

Livestock (practice Monday at 4:30) and

Horse (practice Thursday at 3:45)

Mrs. Fewell coaches 4 teams, including:

Milk Quality (practice Monday at 3:45)

Vet Tech (practice Thursday at 3:45)

*Food Tech (practice Wednesday at 3:45) and

Farm Business Management (practice Tuesday at 3:45)

Ms. Prause coaches 2 teams, which are:

*Floriculture (practice Thursday at 3:45) and

*Nursery Landscape (practice Thursday at 3:45)

These teams have had a HUGE amount of success in the past, and the China Spring FFA is hoping for even more success in the future! CSFFA wants YOU to join a CDE team! Already this year CSFFA has had multiple high individuals in TWO DIFFERENT contests! Who knew that a chapter that is barely 6 years old could have so much success so quickly!?! And with 219 members, 2 agriculture science teachers, and a student teacher, China Spring FFA strives for and achieves success.

Last school year, the China Spring FFA set four goals for the Area VIII CDE contest. Those goals were: to take six teams to the Area contest, to have four teams qualify for their respective state contests, to have zero loss due to scantron errors, and to award pins to state qualifying team members. But guess what?! China Spring FFA achieved EVERY GOAL SET for the 2013-2014 school year!

Isn’t that AWESOME!? If you want to be part of this growing success and want to have fun, then join a CDE team today!

Hey Y’all! This is Jennifer Stanley with the China Spring FFA bringing y’all some scholarship opportunities through the FFA!

Scholarships are a great way to help pay for college without getting buried in student loan debts like 60% of college graduates are. Former high school students across the nation have reported that being active in the FFA gave them access to scholarships that ended up paying for 70% of their college tuition! Be in the lucky 40% who don’t graduate college with student loans and apply for scholarships now!

The following scholarships are those that the due date has not passed yet:

Heart O’ Texas Fair Scholarship

Deadline MARCH 20,2015

The application can be found at the bottom of the scholarship page on the CSFFA website.

Texas Farm Bureau Scholarships

If you’re part of the Texas Farm Bureau Family, there are several scholarship opportunities available. The applications can be found by clicking the link on the scholarship page of the CSFFA website

McLennan County Go Texan Scholarship

This scholarship is open to graduating seniors from high schools in McLennan County and must be completed with all requested information and attachments for our consideration. (Any student that receives a Houston Go-Texan Livestock Show and Rodeo Scholarship is not eligible.) The application can be found at the bottom of the scholarship page of the CSFFA website.

Scholarships are valid for 2-year, 4 year or technical schools (TSTC).

Learn the Rules Like a Pro So You Can Break Them Like an Artist: It’s Time to Prepare for Our April FundraiserPosted By: Madie Prestwood3/4/2015

Hey y’all, Madie here! As we begin this rather unnaturally, bitter cold March, it’s time to start thinking about the latest fundraiser opportunity!

The China Spring FFA chapter will be selling Gourmet Nut products to raise funds for upcoming spring and summer travel expenses. This fundraiser will last from April 1st to April 16th. Be ready to pick up your forms toward the end of this month and listen to the morning announcements for updates.

While the fundraiser may be a month away, you can begin thinking about who to sell to and how to sell. The most ideal people to sell to is obviously your immediate family, such as your parents or your grandparents. Close family friends or neighborhoods are also excellent choices, but as you go around selling keep your personal safety in mind. Here’s some helpful tips to get you started and keep you safe!

Before we get into the tips of sales, just keep in mind how difficult it may be to connect with your consumers and how important it is to relate to them. When I worked at Journey’s Kidz in the Richland Mall, the first thing I was instructed to do was to find something about the customer to relate to, even if it was a lie. I’m not telling you lie to your customer, but if they’re wearing Corrals or have a Texas A&M shirt on, compliment them! It will ease the tension between the two of y’all and the sale will be almost guaranteed.

Also, If you’re the kind of salesperson that needs a challenge, Corey Ludwig has made the top sales for 3 years in a row! Challenge yourself to sell more than him and become the new top person in sales!

THE DOs and DON’Ts OF SELLING

Don’t sell to strangers (AKA door to door selling). Instead ask your parents/guardians to take the forms to their work places if you want to expand your sales.

Be mindful of who you’re selling to, don’t sell to someone who you know may not pay for their items. You don’t want to end up paying for someone else’s products they decided last minute they didn’t want!

Be respectful to your potential customers, don’t be rude and remember that they’re helping your cause SO REMEMBER YOUR BASIC MANNERS (please, thank you, yes sir/ma’am, etc.) Being polite and respectful can be the difference in making or breaking a sale.

As they’re looking through the product lists, explain what these proceeds will be used for so they’re not weary of a scam or useless means of their money. Don’t forget to mention why you’re there in the first place! State your cause, but respectfully.

Not everyone is going to buy the products you’re displaying to them, be prepared for rejection. Don’t push the customer, it is their money after all.

Make sure you’re audible, don’t mumble. Maintain eye contact, don’t appear timid. This is supposed to be a fun experience and you’re helping your FFA chapter at the same time!